Self-steering spring driven wheeled toy



July 22,1952 M. ERNST 2,603,913

SELF-STEERING SPRING DRIVEN WHEELED TOY Filgd July 12, 1949 lnvenlor N use Ernst Patented July 22,1952

SE LF-STEERIN G SPRING DRIVEN WHEELED TOY Max Ernst, Nuremberg, Germany Application July 12, 1949, Serial No. 104,285 In Germany November 28, 1348 Thisinvention relates to wheeled toys.

-More particularly the invention relates to a wheeled toy imitating a motor vehicle and where in a'spring motor is provided to drive the vehicle.

One important object of the invention is to provide a toy of this character having a novel arrangement of driving gear.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a toy of this character embodying a manikin resembling a driver.

A further important object of the invention is to provide, in a toy of this class, a novel steering mechanism so arranged as to appear to be actuated by the manikin.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of'steering mechanism for the toy. I

Still further it is an object of the invention to provide means for automatically causing the toy to travel in a sinuous path. v

Also it is an object of the invention to "provide a novel brake mechanism coacting withmeans for detaching certain driving gears during the winding of the spring motor.

" With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.-

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the toy, partly in elevation and partly in section, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention with certain of the parts removed.

In the construction of the invention as herein disclosed, the toy is indicated in general at l.

The body of the invention has a platform l corresponding to the floor of a motor vehicle. At the forward end of this platform is shown a housing l havinga substantially vertical wall 1 at its rear end.

Carried by the platform l within the housing l is a casing indicated in general at 2. This casing has a horizontal top wall 2 and a wall 2 extending horizontally intermediate the height of the casing. J ournaled in the top wall of 2 and partition 2 is a polygonal shaft 8 which projects downwardly through the platform l to-form an end engageable by a suitable key (not shown) for winding the motor. At 8 is a "coiled spirally wound spring the inner end of which is fixed to the shaft 8 while the outer end of-the springxex- "gears and the pinions meshing therewith.

6 Claims. (Cl. 46208) tends through the front wall of the casing 2 and is anchored as shown in Fig; 1. Fixed on the shaft *8 above the spring 8 is a spur gear 8 which meshes with a pinion 8 fixed on a shaft 8 journaled in the top wall 2 and partition 2 Also fixed on the shaft 8 is a spur gear 8 which meshes with a pinion 8 fixed on a shaft B which is journaled in the casing- 2 and partition 2 This shaft 8 extends through the platform I and on the bottom of the shaft is acrown gear 8 Normally meshing with the crown gear 8 is a pinion I9 carried by a shaft 2|. On the rear end of the shaft 2| is a pinion21 which meshes with a crown wheel 20' fixed onthe rear axle-20 0f the vehicle. Underneath the platform I extends a bar I having its ends turned downwardly as at I the shaft. 20Wbeing'journa1ed in these downwardly turned ends. The shaft 20 has the driving Wheels 2 0 fixed on its ends. A housing 28 is carried by platform l and protects the crown On the shaft 8 is fixed a spur gear 8 which meshes with a drum gear =8 having reduced ends journaled in the casing wall 2 and the partition 2. Carried by the wall I is a lug 22 from which projects a short shaft' 23. A gear lever 24 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the shaft 23 and the bottom end of this lever 24- is forked at 2. 1 to engage a sleeve 25 fixed on the shaft 2| an provided with enlarged ends. 7

As best shown in Fig. 2, when the gear lever 24 has its upper end pushed forwardly the sleeve 25 is in backward position so that the pinion l9 meshes with the crown gear 8 and the pinion 21 meshes with the crown gear 20. However, when the upper end of the lever 24 is pulled rearwardly then the fork 24 pushes the shaft 2| forwardly to disengage the pinions I9 and 21 from their respective gears, thus enabling the motor to be wound without causing rotation of the wheels 20. Projecting forwardly. from the up end of the lever 24 is a brake member 26 which engages against the drum gear 8 Extending transversely of the toy below the platform I, adjacent its forward end is a channel member 3 and at each end of this channel member there is provided a vertical shaft 3 whereon is journaled a steering knuckle consisting of a triangular plate 4, carrying a stub axle ll supporting a front wheel 4* of the vehicle. Each of the plates 4 has formed therein an arouate slot 5 and projecting through each slot 5 is a stop pin 5 anchored in the top and bottom legs of the channel 3. The rear ends of the plates 4 ..are connected by tie plate 6, pivots 6 being provided for the connections. Projecting rearwardly from the tie plate 6 is an arm l3 wherein is formed a slot [3 Extending through the wall 1 is a steering shaft l2 having its lower end bent to form a crank engaging in the slot Is as at I2. The steering wheel II is fixed to the upper end of this shaft l2. A manikin M is seated on a seat l8, being pivoted to the bottom of the seat by means of a pin it. The legs of this manikin are pivoted to the body of the manikin at the hips by a pivot I! so that the manikin body may swing backward and forward on the pivot. The arms I5 of the manikin have their hands fixed to the wheel II. With this arrangement when wheel H is turned, by the child using the toy, the body of the manikin may turn and at the same time may swing bac ward and forward in accordance with the turning of the wheel ll. Projecting forwardly from the tie plate 6 is an arm 6 having an upstandw ing flange I at its inner edge. Fixed on the shaft 8 is acam '9 which bears against the flange l and is there held by a spring l0. By this means as the shaft rotates during the unwinding of the spring, thecam 9 moves the tie plate 6 from one side of the toy to the 'other'and thus the triangular plates 4 are rocked to change the position of the steering wheels t in such manner as to bias them alternately to right and left, thus causing the toy tomove in a sinuous path.

It can now be understoodthat the'l'ever 24 may be manipulated to release the driving wheels during the winding operation after which its 'upper end may be pushed forwardly so that the brake member '26 acts on the drum gear to 'pre vent too rapid unwinding of the spring. At the body, a transversely extending'fr'ame member fixed beneath the body adjacent its front end, steering knuckles pivoted at the ends of said frame member, each of said knucklesinclu'dinga stub-shaft, ground engaging steering wheels mounted on said stub shafts, a tie her having its ends pivotally connectedto said steering knuckles, a vertical shaft journalled in said body and disposed between said wheels, a cam fixed on said shaft and engaged with said tie bar to reciprocate said tie bar, and a spirally coiled spring encircling said shaft having its inner end fixed to said shaft and its outer end anchored to said body.

2. In a toy vehicle having a wheel supported body, a transversely extending frame member fixed beneath the body adjacent its front end, steering knuckles pivoted at the ends of said frame member, each of saidknuckles'inoluding a stub-shaft, ground engaging steeringwheels mounted on said stub shafts, a tie bar having its ends pivotally connected to said steering, a vertical shaft journalled in said body and disposed between said wheels, a cam fixed on said shaft and engaged with said tie bar to reciprocate said tie bar, said tie bar having an upstanding rib against which said cam engages and a spring having one end connected to the tie bar and its other end fixed to said body, and a spirally coiled spring encircling said shaft having its inner end fixed to said shaftand its outer and anchored to said body. I 3. In 'a toy vehicle having a wheel supported body, a transversely extending frame member fixed beneath the body adjacent its front end,

4 steering knuckles pivoted at the ends of said frame member, each of said knuckles including a stub-shaft, ground engaging steering wheels mounted on said stub shafts, a tie bar having its ends pivotally connected to said steering knuckles, a vertical shaft journalled in said body and disposed between said wheels, a cam fixed on said shaft and engaged with said tie bar to reciprocate said tie bar, a spirally coiled spring encircling said shaft having its inner end fixed to said shaft and its outer end anchored to said body, a steering shaft supported'in inclined position in said body and having a steerin wheel at its upper end, and a forwardly extending arm at its lower end, and a pin-and-slot connection between the tie bar and the last mentioned arm.

7 body, a transversely extending frame member '4. In a toy vehicle having a wheel supported fixed beneath the body adjacent its front end, steering knuckles pivoted at the ends of said frame member, each of said knuckles including a stub-shaft, groundengaging steering wheels mounted on said stub shafts, ,a'tiebar having its ends |pivotally"connected, to said steering knuckles, a vertical shaft journalled in said body and disposed between said wheels, a cam fixed on said shaft and engaged with, said tie bar to reciprocate said tie bar, said tie bar having an upstanding rib against which said cam engages and a spring having one end connectedto the tie bar and its otherend fixed to said body, a spirally coiled spring encircling said shaft having its inner end fixed to said shaft and its outer end anchored to said body, a steerin shaft supported in inclined position in said body and having a steering wheel at its upper end, and a forwardly extending arm at its lower .end,and1a ,pin-and-slot connection betweenthe; tie bar and the last-mentioned arm. 1 a

5. In a toy vehicle having a wheel-supported body, a transversely extending frame member fixed beneath the bodyadjacent its front end, steering knuckles pivoted at theends ofsaid frame member, each 'of said knuckles including a stub-shaft, ground engaging steering wheels mounted on said stub shafts, a tie bar having its ends pivotally connected to said steering knuckles, a vertical shaft journalled in said body and dispose'd'between sai'dwheels, a-c'am fixed on said shaft and engaged with said tie bar to reciprocate said tie bar, a spirally coiled spring encircling said shaft having its inner end fixed to said shaft and its outer end anchored to said body, a speed increasing gear train having its drivin gear fixed on the vertical shaft, a drum gear meshing with the final gear of the train, a control lever pivoted in said body, and a brake arm carried by the lever and movable by the lever into and out of engagementwith the brake drum.

6. In a toy vehicle having 'a wheel supported body, a transversely extending frame member fixed beneath the body adjacent "its front end, steering knuckles pivoted at the ends :of said frame member, each of said knuckles including a stub-shaft, ground engaging steering wheels mounted on the stub shafts, a tie barhaving its ends pivotally connected to said steering knuckles, a vertical :shaft journalled in said body and disposed between said wheels, a cam fixed on said shaftand engaged With"'s'aid tie bar to reciprocate said tie bar, a spirally coiled spring encircling said shaft having its inner end fixed to saidshaft and 'its outer end anchored tosa dbody, a speed increas'ing gear train hav ing its drivin gear fixed on the vertical shaf a drum gear meshing with the final gear of the train, a control lever pivoted in said ,body. a brake arm carried by the lever and movable by the lever into and out of engagement with the brake drum.

MAX ERNST.

REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 10 Number file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES'PATENTS Name 7 Date Richter July 30, 1929 De Filippis June 9, 1931 Muller Jan. 17, 1939 Swenson Sept. 12, 1939 Pacheco Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Feb. 2, 1938 

